A few days after the ‘almighty’ 2023 Presidential election was won and lost, some individuals called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to form a government of National Unity to persuade the aggrieved and chant a call for unity in the country. This statement caused a swift flashback to the fearless statement of MKO Abiola where he promised the then Abacha’s Military Junta to form a government of National Unity in an effort to reclaim his mandate of June 12, 1993. Were the circumstances similar in 2023? of course, NOT. Did we need a government of National unity? Yes, but we need to even step more further. And here the concept of competence sets in.
*A Government of National Competence; first or second agenda?*
No doubt, one of Asiwaju’s unique selling points is his talent for hunting talent. No one in the history of Nigeria’s political success has achieved better than him in regard to building a strong team and mentoring them to become leaders. To date, his commissioner back in his governorship days is super relevant after 20 years. So, when my attention was drawn to a statement credited to Asiwaju that he would form a government of national competence, I said fantastic!
An author once said “The secret behind the success of Dubai is in its leadership. Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed knows what he wants, and it is impossible for these projects to happen without his consent and personal supervision. It is obvious that he is giving men and women in Dubai full powers, but, at the same time, he holds them accountable for the outcome and the promises they make.” On this premise, it is certain that the first task for Asiwaju is not forming a government of National competence, rather, it is to have a clear understanding of what he wants for Nigeria. Thereafter, getting the team to deliver comes next.
*Renewed Hope: Action Plan for a Better Nigeria*
In answering the question of what Tinubu wants for Nigeria, I took a quick sojourn to refresh my thought on what Tinubu’s plan entails as contained in his documentary titled Renewed Hope. The 80-page action plan is fully loaded with beautiful thoughts. It’s an action plan that needs a serious-minded team to execute. In some cases, these plans had their Goals and intended solution. I got carried away with the plan’s flawless vision for Agriculture in Nigeria. It’s actually fascinating, to say the least. The promise to bring back the commodity board which had been abandoned for so long, the creation of Grain reserves and Food storage, rural infrastructural development, irrigation, access to finance, farm cooperative among others are well thought.
That’s just on agriculture, he still have unambiguous plans on national security, economy, power, oil & gas, Education, and Health care among other very important sectors.
*The cabinet formation and list of competence*
It is an open secret that the race for appointment in the Tinubu’s government has begun. The struggle is in two categories, presidency and ministerial. Under the presidency, we have the following as offices to be filled – Chief of Staff, CoS, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Special Advisers, SAs, and Senior Special Assistants, SSAs.
The name of the likes of El-Rufai, Ganduje, Gbajabiamila, Fashola, Faleke, Wale Edun, Bankole, Onanuga and several others are all over the media space. It is unassuming to expect that the bulk of people that will work in the presidency are Tinubu’s core loyalists. The government of national competence with respect to those who will work in the presidency is basically those who Tinubu finds to be loyal and can handle assignments.
For ministerial lobbying, this area comes with many complexities, scheming, and state political peculiarity. Notwithstanding all these, Asiwaju must look deep for productive personalities and not replicate a retirement benefit for former governors or political big-wigs.
*Oyo State and her long list of ministerial aspirants*
I had run some investigative check on what’s disrupting the political space in oyo state with regards to Ministerial nomination speculations. I choice to used the word ministerial aspirant because it more of another contest for who would be Asiwaju’s pick to fill in the ministerial slot for the state. I believe the scheming is similar in many other states as well.
The mere fact that Folarin was unable to unseat Seyi Makinde had made the ministerial contest even more competitive among the gladiators. Folarin has a National political war chest within the APC, and many had speculated that he may be compensated for losing the Guber race by a ministerial nomination. But this reminded me how Sunday Dare was appointed minister and
Adelabu was also not compensated for the 2019 defeat. Sunday Dare is an Asiwaju’s boy, so you can’t write him off too. The likes of Sen. Soji Akanbi, Prof. Adeolu Akande, Adebayo Shittu, KK Raji, Prof. Abideen Olaiya, Engr. Olaniyan, etc, are names on the radar.
If I were to pick for Asiwaju, my choice would be Prof. Abideen Olaiya. His credential in politics and profession is a good catch for Asiwaju’s passionate drive for Agricultural revival and food stability. Just like Prof. Ali Pantami’s success in the Ministry of Communications and digital economy, Prof Abideen Olaiya has the pedigree to do the magic in the agriculture ministry especially at this critical time when Asiwaju needs extraordinary performers and technocrats. More importantly, the Ministry of Agriculture had been managed by all kinds of non-agricultural experts since 1999. Aside Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who had his degrees in Agricultural economics, no other minister till date can be said to have background in core agricultural discipline.
Beside professional competence Prof Olaiya is loyal member of the party that have severally sacrifices his ambition for party success for instance, he stepped down for APC guber candidate in 2019 without any compensation. He also asked to step down for Senator Omisore to become APC National Secretary at the last convention and refund of #10m was not made till date despite the promise by the party.
Prof Olaiya was a strong supporter of Asiwaju Presidential project, belonging to several support groups and PCC.
He is sincere and dedicated advocate of good governance,
competent professional in the field of agriculture, education, value reorientation and Youth development.
It should be noted too that Ministries of Finance, Power, Education, Petroleum, Health, labor, and employment are also ministries that deserve expert and committed individuals.
Olaiya is not just an ordinary Academic farmer but has personal farms scattered around Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Ondo States supplying farm products and practical trainings/consultancy services to the farming communities.
Prof Olaiya was also involved in establishment and management of private educational institutions from basic to tertiary levels, contributing immensely to attainment of millennium development goals in educational sector.
*By Philip Ojo, Akobo Ojurin Ibadan.
